NameCensus.

UK surname

Yearsley

An English locational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 603 people recorded with the Yearsley surname, ranking it #5,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 825, ranked #6,734, down from #5,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Over, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Trafford, Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yearsley is 890 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.8%.

1881 census count

603

Ranked #5,808

Modern count

825

2016, ranked #6,734

Peak year

1911

890 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yearsley had 603 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 825 in 2016, ranked #6,734.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 890 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Yearsley surname distribution map

The map shows where the Yearsley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Yearsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yearsley over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 351 #6,715
1861 historical 362 #7,062
1881 historical 603 #5,808
1891 historical 667 #5,835
1901 historical 780 #5,756
1911 historical 890 #5,008
1997 modern 770 #6,736
1998 modern 862 #6,364
1999 modern 862 #6,411
2000 modern 846 #6,486
2001 modern 841 #6,395
2002 modern 842 #6,510
2003 modern 828 #6,466
2004 modern 826 #6,499
2005 modern 809 #6,555
2006 modern 801 #6,622
2007 modern 791 #6,755
2008 modern 809 #6,681
2009 modern 844 #6,598
2010 modern 850 #6,693
2011 modern 851 #6,611
2012 modern 842 #6,573
2013 modern 868 #6,531
2014 modern 867 #6,557
2015 modern 852 #6,587
2016 modern 825 #6,734

Geography

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Where Yearsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Over, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wolstanton, Astbury and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Trafford, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Caerphilly. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Over Cheshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Astbury Cheshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Trafford 019 Trafford
2 Cheshire West and Chester 020 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Cheshire East 025 Cheshire East
4 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly
5 Cheshire West and Chester 040 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yearsley

These lists show first names that appear often with the Yearsley surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yearsley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Yearsley, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Yearsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Yearsley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Yearsley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Yearsley is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yearsley falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yearsley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Yearsley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Yearsley

The surname Yearsley is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is locational, deriving from a place in Northern England, specifically in Yorkshire. The original form of this place name is thought to be Earsley or Yearsley, a small hamlet near the town of Easingwold. The name Yearsley likely originated as "Earsig's Leah," where "leah" is an Old English term meaning "clearing" or "meadow," and "Earsig" would have been a personal name.

Historical references to the surname Yearsley are sparse but can be identified in several medieval documents. The earliest known record of the name is in the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Richard de Yearsley is mentioned. This demonstrates that the surname was already in use during the late 14th century and tied to the geographic location of Yearsley in Yorkshire.

The spelling variations of Yearsley have appeared throughout history in numerous records and include Yeresley, Yerresley, and Yaresley. In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, various references to the surname appear in parish registers and local documents. One notable bearer was John Yearsley, recorded in church records in 1606 in Yorkshire. Another early example is William Yearsley, mentioned in a 1621 lease agreement in York.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Yearsley continued to be used by various individuals. One prominent figure was Ann Yearsley (1753–1806), an English poet and writer. She was known for her works that highlighted social issues and for being an accomplished poet despite her humble beginnings as a milkmaid. Her literary achievements brought some attention to the surname during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the surname Yearsley appeared in different parts of England. George Yearsley, born in 1818, was a notable resident in Lancashire and had a distinguished career as a local architect and builder. His work mainly focused on the industrial development during the Victorian era.

Another significant person was John Thomas Yearsley, born in 1839. He was a renowned surgeon and author of medical texts, known for his contributions to otology—the branch of medicine that deals with the ear. His publications in the late 19th century brought further recognition to the surname Yearsley in academic and medical circles.

Henry Yearsley, born in 1865, was a musician and conductor who contributed to the world of classical music in England. His performances and compositions added cultural richness to the surname, linking it to artistic and creative endeavors during the turn of the 20th century.

The historical narrative of the surname Yearsley reflects its medieval English roots and geographical association with Yorkshire. Through individuals who carried the name across centuries, the surname has walked through history, leaving marks in literary, medical, architectural, and musical fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yearsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yearsley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 220 Yearsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.86x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 220 16.86x
Lancashire 130 1.85x
Staffordshire 57 2.86x
Gloucestershire 44 3.80x
Kent 29 1.44x
Monmouthshire 21 4.91x
Dorset 17 4.38x
Worcestershire 17 2.20x
Yorkshire 10 0.17x
Essex 9 0.77x
Hampshire 9 0.74x
Warwickshire 8 0.54x
Cumberland 6 1.18x
Middlesex 5 0.08x
Durham 4 0.23x
Surrey 4 0.14x
Wiltshire 4 0.77x
Channel Islands 2 1.14x
Flintshire 2 1.26x
Glamorgan 2 0.19x
Montgomeryshire 2 1.48x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Herefordshire 1 0.41x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Congleton in Cheshire leads with 39 Yearsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 172.95x.

Place Total Index
Congleton 39 172.95x
Over 29 218.70x
Salford 27 13.09x
Bristol St George 22 41.03x
Wolstanton Knutton 18 147.78x
Manchester 15 4.76x
Monmouth 15 132.39x
Wolverley 15 221.24x
Norley 14 952.38x
Tranmere 14 29.19x
Deptford St Paul 13 8.36x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 6.14x
Garston 12 57.97x
Crowton 11 1170.21x
Oakmere 10 1204.82x
Sherborne 10 87.49x
Andover 9 78.60x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 17.04x
West Derby 9 4.39x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 7.33x
Colchester St James 8 169.13x
Great Budworth 8 346.32x
Keele 8 377.36x
Leftwich 8 137.93x
Pickering 8 108.40x
Wolstanton 8 13.20x
Wolstanton Chesterton 8 78.43x
Altrincham 7 30.70x
Eccleston In Prescot 7 19.88x
Hulme 7 4.78x
Lewisham 7 6.51x
Monks Coppenhall 7 14.22x
Odd Rode 7 108.36x
Runcorn 7 23.26x
Wareham Lady St Mary 7 233.33x
Wincham 7 290.46x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 7 60.29x
Crosscanonby 6 35.65x
Everton 6 2.68x
Hale 6 133.33x
Lower Bebington 6 77.42x
Risca 6 74.44x
Bredbury 5 66.23x
Castle Northwich 5 115.74x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 31.23x
Little Bolton 5 5.54x
Ardwick 4 6.32x
Birmingham 4 0.81x
Blackburn 4 2.14x
Devizes St John 4 101.78x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 4 92.59x
Marton In Whitegate 4 283.69x
Smallwood 4 341.88x
Walton On Hill 4 10.53x
Westoe 4 4.01x
Widnes 4 7.91x
Castleton 3 4.28x
Great Sutton 3 441.18x
Hyde 3 7.79x
Kensington London 3 0.91x
Rishton 3 36.45x
Abinghall 2 370.37x
Ashton In Makerfield 2 10.02x
Charlton 2 14.93x
Cheltenham 2 2.24x
Coventry St Michael 2 4.18x
Greenwich 2 2.13x
Liverpool 2 0.47x
Llandaff 2 5.84x
Mitcheldean 2 138.89x
Northop 2 35.52x
Penketh 2 79.05x
Pool 2 19.57x
St Martin 2 18.64x
Sutton 2 9.60x
Toxteth Park 2 0.84x
Winnington 2 138.89x
Dutton 1 109.89x
Old Malton 1 27.17x
Stoke 1 34.01x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Yearsley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 57
Sarah 26
Elizabeth 24
Hannah 12
Ann 11
Emily 11
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Ellen 8
Margaret 8
Annie 7
Jane 7
Harriet 6
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Edith 4
Martha 4
Rebecca 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Bridget 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Lizzie 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Minnie 2
Anne 1
Cecelia 1
Dinah 1
Edna 1
Elen 1
Elizth.P. 1
Emmersell 1
Harriot 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Livinia 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Yearsley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 41
John 30
Joseph 24
Thomas 23
James 22
George 13
Samuel 11
Robert 10
Edwin 9
Henry 8
Alfred 7
Albert 6
Charles 6
Frederick 6
Harry 5
Peter 4
Arthur 3
Cornelius 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Charlton 2
Daniel 2
Job 2
Ormond 2
Philip 2
Saml. 2
Tom 2
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Howard 1
Hy. 1
Israel 1
Jacob 1
Josaph 1
Josheph 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Nathan 1
Noah 1
Ostwell 1
Percival 1
Reginald 1
Wilner 1

FAQ

Yearsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yearsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 603 people were recorded with the Yearsley surname. That placed it at #5,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yearsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 825 in 2016. That gives Yearsley a modern rank of #6,734.

What does the Yearsley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place in Yorkshire.

What does the Yearsley map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Yearsley bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.